Garland



W. M. JASON GARLAND July 1, 1969 Filed May 24, 1.966

INVENTOR. WILLIAM M. JASON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,453,170 GARLAND William M. Jason, Atherton, Califi, assignor to Bemiss- Jason Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif. Filed May 24, 1966, Ser. No. 552,468 Int. Cl. A47g 33/08 US. Cl. 161-14 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a new and improved garland structure which can be displayed on a previously installed supporting line.

Garlands are conventionally constructed from a plurality of flat flexible paper or paper-like sheets, each having a substantially similar shape. The garland configuration is a result of joining each flat flexible sheet to one of the next adjacent sheets at the central section thereof and to the other next adjacent sheet at the outer section thereof. In this manner, a plurality of juxtaposed sheets are joined alternately at central and outer sections, so that when the outermost sheets are displaced from each other, i.e., when the garland is expanded, it will be accordion-like in structure, forming an attractive decoration.

Garlands are usually formed with an axially aligned aperture extending through the central area of each of the plurality of fiat juxtaposed sheets for insertion of an elongated support line, such as a string or wire. In such prior devices the support is first inserted, preferably when the garland is unexpanded, then the ends of the support are attached in a desired display area and finally the garland expanded to utilize its decorative features. When installing or removing the conventional garland, it has heretofore been necessary for at least one end of the support to be detached. However, attaching and detaching the support is not only time-consuming, but proper positioning of the support, encumbered with the garland, is a diflicult task at best.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a garland assembly of such a configuration that it can be quickly and easily mounted on a pre-strung wirelike support, maintained on thesupport during use and removed, Without releasing the pre-strung support, by reversing the mounting procedure.

It is a feature and advantage of the present invention to provide a novel garland structure wherein each of the plurality of flat juxtaposed sheets is provided with a similar, aligned aperture-entry slit as a wire-receiving passage. In one embodiment, the aperture-entry slit is formed in two sections intersecting in an acute angle, with one section of the slit extending inwardly from a position on the periphery of the garland structure, and the other section extending outwardly from the aperture.

In this embodiment, the unique wire-receiving passage which results from the relation between the intersecting sections and the aperture requires that the garland of this invention be rotated through an angle in excess of 270 during installation on a wire-like support. Conversely, when being removed from the support, the garland will have to be rotated through the opposite angle. Because of the aforesaid overlapping wire-receiving passage, the garland can be installed and removed from a previously positioned wire-like support, yet will not become easily detached or disassembled. This feature and advantage of the invention is further enhanced by the resulting configuration of the aperture-entry slit which provides a bridge between the section of the slit extending inwardly from the periphery and the aperture. This structure thereby prevents the weight of the garland structure from causing disassembly during normal usage.

In another aspect of the invention, the acute angular configuration of the aperture-entry slit prevents the disengagement of the mounted garland. Should the section extending outwardly from the aperture accidentally become aligned directly above the support line, the garland structure would only be displaced downwardly from the length of the internal section of the aperture slit. The garland would then be supported at the apex of the acute intersection of the two sections, and would be there held captive unless considerably further garland rotation were to occur. Such rotation would be inhibited because the center of gravity of the garland would be a considerable distance below the point of suspension, i.e., the center of gravity would be below the apex of the acute intersection. Therefore, by providing this unique apertureentry slit composed of two sections intersection at an acute angle, the garland of this invention would be retained in the desired mounting position yet possess the advantage of simplified attachment and detachment, not present in the conventional garland structures.

As still another object of the present invention, the garland is formed so that the point of suspension is substantially above the center of gravity, i.e., wherein the axially aligned aperture in each flat juxtaposed sheet of the garland is formed off-center. Thus, when the garland is installed on a support, it will be prevented from turning and becoming detached because of the initial position of the center of gravity, as well as the aforementioned two section aperture-entry slit.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the present invention illustrating an expanded garland;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of this invention illustrating an unexpanded garland; and

FIG. 3 is a partial end view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a garland A having a plurality of fiat similarly-shaped sheets 15 composed of paper or other thin flexible material. Each of the juxtaposed sheets 15 includes outer portions 16 and a central portion 17. Each of the sheets 15 is joined, by gluing or through another form of conventional attachment, at its outer portions 16 to the outer portions of one of the next adjacent sheets. In a similar manner each sheet 15 is attached at its central portion to the central portion of the other next adjacent sheet. The resulting garland structure contains sheets 15 which are alternately joined at their central portions and their outer portions. In storage and shipment the garland is normally maintained with the sheets in an unexpanded condition in which all the sheets are in juxtaposition, as seen at FIG. 2.

However, during installation the sheets are displaced from each other along the string or wire support 20 to extend the garland to the expanded condition as seen in FIG. 1.

Each sheet 15 of garland A is formed with an aperture 18, preferably centrally located, and axially aligned with each of the other apertures. Each of the sheets 15 is further formed with an axially aligned aperture-entry slit 19 therein, composed of an external section 22 extending inwardly from a point 23 on the outer periphery of each sheet 15, and an internal section 24 extending outwardly from point 25 on the aperture 18. The sections 22 and 24 of slit 19 intersect in an acute angle 26. To enhance the ease with which garland A can be positioned on Wire support 20, sections 22 and 24 are illustrated as being curved, forming angle 26. However, it will be obvious to one skilled in this art that sections 22 and 24 could be straight, but are curved for convenience in mounting. Wire support 20 remains attached at fixed positions, such as 28 and 29, during installation and removal of garland A.

The garland A, preferably unexpanded as shown in FIG. 2, is mounted by first forcing garland A onto wire support 20 along section 22 of the aperture-entry slit 19 to the intersecting acute angle 26. Then by appropriately rotating the garland A, through an angle in excess of 270, and then forcing garland A onto the wire support 20 along section 24 to aperture 18, garland A will occupy the desired location. Expansion of garland A then produces the decorative effect illustrated by FIG. 1.

Garland A is prevented from becoming detached from wire support 20 by the unique configuration of apertureentry slit 19 which provides a bridge 32 formed in each sheet 15 by the overlap of the two sections 22 and 24 of slit 19. Bridge 32 prevents the weight of the garland fro-m causing deformation of the thin sheets 15 and subsequent disengagement of the garland A.

In a similar manner, even though the garland A may become displaced so that the wire support 20 is located at the apex of the acute angle 26, complete disengagement Will not normally be possible. The reason for this is that when the wire support 20 is positioned in the apex of the acute angle 26, the center of gravity of garland A will then be substantially below the point of suspension. This will inhibit any further accidental movement which would be needed to cause a garland to rotate through the angle in excess of 270. Therefore, the garland A cannot unintentionally become disengaged from wire support 20.

The acute angle formed between the two sections of the aperture-entry slit has been described as being an acute angle. However, it will be understood that the angle must be sufficient so that the bridge structure formed between the outer section of the slit and the inner section, including the aperture, will be of sufficient width to pro duce the necessary support for the garland. In this regard, an angle of at least has been found to be necessary to obtain this desired support. Of course, it will be understood by one skilled in this art that this angle may be varied depending on the actual size of the central aperture employed. Although any angle not greater than 90 will be advantageous, lesser angles will more fully insure continuous engagement of the garland with the support line. Therefore, it is preferred that the acute angle have a lower limit of about 30 to insure the presence of suflicient bridge structure for supporting the garland and an upper limit of about 60 so that the garland will not become disengaged from its mounting. The angle through which the garland will be rotated during installation or detachment must necessarily be that angle which is the difference between 360 and the size of the acute angle.

Referring now to FIG. 3, garland B includes sheet as previously defined,provicled with an aperture 18', located off-center from center of gravity 30. Sheet 15 is further formed with an aperture-entry slit 19 as previously described, extending inwardly from point 23' on the outer periphery thereof through an angle 26' to a point 25 on the aperture.

Garland B is prevented from becoming detached from a wire support by the relative location of the aperture and aperture-entry slit with respect to the center of gravity of the garland. Thus, when garland B is properly disposed on the support, the point of suspension in aperture 18 will be located above the center of gravity. Furthermore, when garland B is positioned on a support at the apex of the acute angle 26, the point of suspension will still be located above the center of gravity. Therefore, the center of gravity of garland B is not only below a support when the garland is suspended from the apex acute angle 26', but also when normally suspended Within aperture 18'. It will be apparent to one skilled in this art that, generally speaking, as long as the center of gravity of the garland is below the horizontal plane through the point of suspension, undesirable movement an ddetachment of the garland will be inhibited.

While the garland has been described as being positioned on a Wire or string, any support line which is prestrung may be employed. Furthermore, the garland material, While conventionally formed of paper, can be formed of other thin flexible sheet material such as plastic or metal foil and the like. It is pointed out, however, that because of the novel entry slit, thin flexible material with limited body can be conveniently mounted and retained on pre-strung line supports.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A garland comprising a plurality of stacked flexible sheets, each of said sheets having outer periphery portions and inner periphery portions and central portions, the outer periphery portions of each sheet being affixed to the corresponding outer periphery portions of the next adjacent sheets and the central portion being aflixed to the central portion of the other next adjacent sheet; said sheets forming axially aligned central apertures in said central portions, said sheets further forming a slit aligned with similar slits formed by each other sheet, said slits each formed with a first section opening to said aperture and extending outwardly therefrom and a second section opening to an outer edge of the inner periphery portions of said sheets and extending inwardly therefrom to intersect with said first section, said first and second sections bearing an acute angular relation to each other.

2. A garland as described in claim 1 wherein said sheets are formed of similar configuration.

3. A garland as described in claim 1 wherein said acute angle is of sufficient size to form a bridge structure between said second section and said first section to assist in the support of said garland.

4. A garland, adapted to be positioned on a support line pre-strung between two fixed points, comprising: a plurality of flexible sheets, each of said sheets having outer portions and a central portion, the outer portions of each sheet being aflixed to the corresponding outer portions of one of the next adjacent sheets and the central portion being afiixed to the central portion of the opposite next adjacent sheet; said sheets forming a support line receiving axially aligned aperture and a correspondingly aligned multidirectional slit extending through about the center of gravity of said sheets and between said support linereceiving aperture and the outer edge of said sheet to facilitate installation of said garland on said support line and subsequent removal therefrom while the support line is retained in the pre-strung condition.

5. A garland as described in claim 3 wherein said acute angle is of from 30 to 60.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,679 3/ 1952 Germany. 237,026 1881 Knauff 16112 2,117,501 1938 Raymond 161 12 JACOB H. STEINBERG, Plzmary Examiner.

(Made of record 11/1968) 5 US. Cl. X.R,

2.922,239 1960 Glynn M 161-14 161-17 

